JaPa splitting again Raushan Ershad declares party chairman!

Staff Reporter :
Jatiya Party (JaPa) Chief Patron Rawshan Ershad on Tuesday declared herself as the Chairman of the party when the incumbent Chairman GM Quader is now on a three-day visit to India.

On the other hand, JaPa Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu said those who were expelled from the party spread the fake news that Rawshan Ershad declared herself Chairman of the party.

However, a press release signed by Rawshan Ershad declaring herself as the Chairman of JaPa was sent to the media on Tuesday.

According to the release, “I Begum Rawshan Ershad, MP, and founding Co-chairman of Jatiya Party, hereby declare that I take charge of party Chairman for sake of keeping the party moving at the decision and suggestion of the senior leaders of the party.”

Meanwhile, some senior leaders of JaPa denied the development and said that they don’t know anything about it.

Some JaPa leaders also fear that the party might split as a result of this announcement by Rawshan Ershad.

The rift between Rawshan and GM Quader in JaPa is becoming more evident with the election approaching.

There is a discussion in the party that Rawshan has a close tie with the Awami League government.

GM Quader has been criticizing the government in recent days.

“The expelled leaders had used the name of Rawshan Ershad to make up the fake news.

There was no such decision in Jatiya Party and no scope of this happening,” JaPa Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu said on Tuesday while talking to The New Nation.

When asked Rawshan Ershad took the charge as per suggestion and decision of JaPa’s senior leaders, he replied, “I have already talked with some senior JP leaders who were said to have sent a letter (expressing no confidence in incumbent Chairman GM Quader) to Rawshan Ershad and they told me that they hadn’t signed any such letter.”

Mujibul Haque Chunnu also said, as per the party’s charter, there is no scope for anyone to become chairman of JP as per his or her will, neither can anyone relieve any leader of the party in such a manner.

JaPa co-chairman Kazi Feroz Rashid said that some quarters are being involved in such activities to create a rift in the party.

GM Quader went to India on 20 August. On 19 August, Rawshan Ershad met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Ganabhaban.

During the meeting, Rawshan announced that she would take part in the next general election under the current government.

Within three days, she declared herself Chairman of the party.

Many apprehended that Jatiya Party is likely to split centring the upcoming national election of the country as there is a difference of opinion among the party policymakers over participation in the election.

Formed in 1986 by the then military ruler HM Ershad, JP faced split several times in the past.

Party leaders Anwar Hossain Manju and Naziur Rahman Manzur formed separate parties after splitting from JP.

Former Prime Minister Kazi Zafar Ahmed formed a new party after splitting from the Jatiya Party in 2013 to join the BNP-led 20-party alliance.

While suffering from various old-age complications, Ershad in February 2019 made Quader the acting party chairman.

On March 22, bowing to the pressure of a faction led by Anisul Islam Mahmud, Ershad removed Quader from the post.

Quader was also removed from the post of deputy leader of the opposition the next day, and the position was given to Rawshan.

On May 4, 2019, Ershad reinstated Quader to the post of acting chairman and urged party men to make Quader the new chairman of JP at the next party council.

Quader, who served as a minister in the Awami League-led government from 2009 to 2014, was formally named Jatiya Party chairman in July 2019 following Ershad’s death.